Our Team

Sam Wilson

Chief Scientist

Sam Wilson is an Assistant Researcher at the University of Hawaii. His research is broadly focused on biogeochemical cycling with an emphasis on trace gases, microbial ecology and time-series observations. This Falkor expedition represents is a continuing exploration into how microbially-mediated biogeochemical cycling In the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre is dictated by time and space dynamics. Previous expeditions, in conjunction with the Hawaii Ocean Time-series (HOT) program, have considered time scales ranging from hours to decades, while the spatial scales have mostly been represented at the mesoscale level, i.e. distances of tens to hundreds of kilometers. The 2018 Falkor expedition will use novel autonomous technologies to advance the understanding of microbial processes in the open ocean.

Sam received his PhD at the Scottish Association for Marine Science in 2007 and did his postdoctoral research from 2007-2012 with David Karl at the University of Hawaii. In 2012, he became an Assistant Researcher affiliated with the University of Hawaii and in 2016 he joined the Department of Oceanography faculty. Sam is also the Project Scientist for SCOPE. He has led or co-led seven oceanographic expeditions and this will be the third research cruise he has led for SCOPE.

New #PescaderoVentDiving blog:
These organisms call this extreme habitat home, thriving in brutal conditions. They are in high temperatures+pressures, as well as toxic chemicals - which also happen to be the life-giving force in these deep oases.
schmidtocean.org/cru…